STUDENT ASSAULT AT APOSTOLIC FAITH SECONDARY SCHOOL, ADATAN, ABEOKUTA

I received this email documenting details of assaults on secondary school students by their house master. I understand the need for discipline but I believe this goes beyond that. Please read.

"Hello, my name Adebola and I am writing this story on behalf of my brother who is a SS3 student at APOSTOLIC FAITH SECONDARY SCHOOL, ADATAN, ABEOKUTA. This incident happened on the 15th of April, 2016 at about 11pm. The normal time for light out in the school is 10pm but due to the ongoing WACE exams the school authorizes moved light out to 11pm to unable the students to read for an extra hour.

It was reported that some students were playing ball in the dining hall which is on the first floor of the hostel building, during the one hour duration for night prep while others were reading on their beds in the hostel which is on the second floor of the same building. The two house masters in charge of the male hostel were unable to control those playing ball, so they decided to take out the electricity fuse of the hostel. While they were at it, the students playing ball on the first floor had locked them out and on their return they were unable to gain entrance into the hostel. One of the house masters in the person of THEOPHILUS SUNDAY jumped into the first hostel on the second floor through the window and bounced on the first person he saw, who happens to be my brother.

My brother said he was on his friend’s bed and they were both studying and suddenly they heard a rush from beside them, they got up to find out what was happening and saw that someone jumped in through the window, since it was dark and they couldn’t see the face, they assumed it was a student. He said, suddenly someone (THEOPHILUS SUNDAY) started blowing him on the head, as he tried to get his balance; THEOPHILUS SUNDAY took a mop stick and starting using it to flog him all over his body till he was pushed to the ground. THEOPHILUS SUNDAY bounced on the next student and did the same. The students were asking what they did to deserve the merciless beating but he refused to respond. This prompted my brother to call home to report the incident.

On arrival of some of our family members to the school, They met the principal in person of MR. BAMIDELE OLANREWAJU ONANUGA, who said he had heard about the case but has not seen any student with bruises. My brother was sent for and bruises were all over his body, his arm, leg and two fingers were swollen. The principal told him to narrate what happened which he did. The principal then asked him what time was stipulated for them to sleep, he said he was rounding up on his reading when he heard the rushing sound, the principal cuts in saying it was due to his disobedience that has earned him the beating he got. Adding that if he is a righteous person before God, reciting the verse in the bible that says, “say unto the righteous, that it shall be well with you” that if he was a born again Christian, he wouldn’t have been beaten. The principal did not tender any form of apology to the family members on behalf of the house masters neither did he allow the THEOPHILUS SUNDAY to say his own side of the story has requested by the family members of the student. Rather he said a panel will be set up and investigations will take place. The principal also testified to the fact that my brother is a cool and easy going student with no records of truancy or bad behavior. This is not the first time THEOPHILUS SUNDAY will flog my brother and leave him with marks. The first time, he was told a panel will seat and investigate the case, all for people to start begging him including THEOPHILUS SUNDAY saying he should forgive and forget.

Let me remind us that these students are in their final year and they have been with this school for 6 good years with my brother inclusive and are current writing their final exams (WACE). And the best sendoff gift to them is a merciless beating by a house master, not even with a cane but with blows and mop stick, how cruel. It hurts more that the Principal, who is supposed to act in the capacity of a father, could say such things as disobedience earned him and others the merciless beating; the beating received doesn’t show a correctional method for disobedience rather it shows hatred, anger and frustrating for his job and the students. And saying it’s because they are not righteous that’s why that deserve what they got makes me question the principal, because if they have been in your care for 6 good year and they are still disobedient and unrighteous, I wonder what positive impacts the school-which referred to as a missionary private school- has deposited into the lives of these children.

My question to the principal is; if the students deserved the beating for being unrighteous, the heartless and cruel house master that flogged them with mop stick and several blow, is he an example of righteous? If the voiceless students can’t trust the principal to give them justice rather he is twisting their words and using it against them, what examples his he showing the future leaders they are kept in his care?

These students are all minors, they are being cheated, mercilessly beating and rendered voiceless. Now church members are begging the students to speak with their parents not to take the case up, so that the case can be swept under the carpet. This one must not go unnoticed, THEOPHILUS SUNDAY did it before and if not stopped he will continue to do it.

My fellow Nigerians, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Welfare, Department of Child Welfare, Office of the Public Defender, Human Right Advocates; these children are crying for your help!!!"

18 comments

I read this story on instablog and I was so saddened by it. What hurt me the most were all the stupid comments by readers saying things like "abeg this is a normal thing in Nigeria". I was so enraged that I released my anger on one of them. It really hits me hard because I have a little brother who is attending secondary school in Nigeria right now, and all I can think of is how many merciless years his house master would be spending in jail if this were to be him.

This is totally unacceptable. They should make sure that the teacher doesn't go scot free. This as been going on in so many schools. We know the Nigerian educational system puts too much emphasis on physical punishment which I don't agree with. This is bad.

No matter what a student does, nothing gives teachers, principals, housemasters or even lecturers the right to beat up a student mercilessly. How can you beat up someone else's child like a goat because he was sent to learn at your institution? I remembered how my classmate's mum bundled a notorious teacher into the boot of her car for beating up her daughter like this. This issue really needs to be addressed. And people who even support this kind of inhuman treatement are the real problem

Any gaddem person that harms even a hair on my son's head not to speak of inflicting grievous bodily harm like this on him will face the full extent of my wrath and it is never pretty. What utter nonsense. I will pursue both a civil and criminal legal actions against the beast and the school. Ensure he spends some time in prison, cooling his heels and exorcising whatever demon that caused him to act so violently towards my son.

Theophilus Sunday is an exanple of what a care-giver, a house master, should not be. I am a parent who on resumption for this second term just complained about a similar measure of brutality meted on my SS1 son by this same Theophilus, resulting to an injury to his rib area. Its so unfortunate that the principal could try to rationalize this unGodly at. Leaders should be examples in Godliness, moreso in a school founded on christian values. It is on this bedrock that parents feel comfortable to send their children to the school and Theophilus and his likes should not be allowed to erode this confidence.

It is quite unfortunate that lesser humans like Theophius Sunday are saddled with such responsibility as giving care to younger students. I just reported a similar, though lesser, act of brutality meted on my SS1 son at the end of last term by the same Theophius. Why is Theophius always drawing blood? Is he on a spiritual assignment to the school? Did he have suck of a beast as an infant that he now lacks any bit of compassion? If the statements credied to the principal were true, then afss authority probably has Its own different bible from the rest of us and a warped definition of of godliness. It is unfortunate!

Theophilus had better watch his back. I heard of his act(s) but for the life in me did not believe the story until I was referred to this post, and to think the principal who is quite elderly and may be a grandfather could be illogical, judgmental and without empathy for the pained guardians/parents is unfortunate uncomfortable and mean. I am pained at this and I think Theophilus and the sch should be reported to the appropriate authorities and sanctioned.

Good to write and make this public but in such a lawless society, there's no use making all these noises. Mr Theophilus and his type need to be taught a life lesson i.e engage some guys to go pick him up, take him to any desired destination, using the same instrument ( mop stick) beat the daylight out of him. PERIOD! That was how I fixed the housemaster who bullied my son. It really paid off, so I recommend an eye for an eye. As for the the foolish principal....I rest my case .

This case is very to fix. Get Mr Theophilus pick led up and well flogged, I mean really beatings as in BEATINGS; that the only way such people learn. I'm really upset about all the comments I've read on this issue, that nobody figured this out. Pay some guys to pick him up, take him somewhere and teach him a lesson, PERIOD. That's simple! That was how I fixed the house master who bullied my son and left injuries exactly as your brother's. As for the principal, he is a disgrace not just to the school but to the church as well. Shame on him! AFSS use to be a very good school (Anthony Village). I bet such a thing can NEVER happen with Bukola Osidipe as principal. In short I recommend the principal should receive flogged until he is able to define " righteousness ."